Tips and Pointers for Food Safety While Camping

During your camping trip this summer, it is critical that you take food safety into consideration to prevent illnesses that are foodborne. Here are a few tips and pointers to help you keep your food safe as you enjoy the great outdoors:

Plan Ahead

• Plan your menus ahead of time keeping portion sizes in mind, this will help to avoid leftovers.
• Plan meals with common ingredients that can be cooked in one pot, this will lower your ingredient list and lighten your load.
• Opt to pack items that do not require refrigeration, for example; canned fish, poultry, and meat, beef jerky, peanut butter and jelly, nuts, dried fruits, crackers, bread, noodles and soups, fruit drinks, and powdered milk.
• Pack in an organized fashion using containers that are airtight and resealable plastic bags which can also be recycled and used for various other campsite purposes.

Keep Things Clean

• Pack biodegradable camping soap and disposable wipes. This will help you clean up after preparing meats and poultry, in particular.
• Place double wrapped packages in plastic bags at the very bottom of your cooler so there is no dripping on other food products.
• Prior to beginning your food prep, wash your hands with soap and water for twenty seconds.
• Use a spatula or clean tongs to remove poultry or meat from the grill and place on a clean plate; this will prevent cross-contamination.

With the above mentioned food safety tips and pointers in mind, you will avoid any unnecessary food dangers while having fun on your camping trip. We want all your camping meals to be filled with fun and good times with your family. Taking just a few measures for food safety will assure a memorable trip.